Percussion mechanism for closures



Aug. 25, 1936. H. M. THOMAS YERCUSSION MECHANISM FOR CLOSURES Filed Sept. 7, 1935 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 PERCUSSION MECHANISM FOR CLOSURES Harry M. Thomas, Bowling Green, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Harry E. Graham, Cygnet, Ohio Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,535

6 Claims. (Cl. 109-43) My invention relates to a mechanism for effecting a percussion with a container which may contain an explosive or expansible material to thereby effect the explosion or release of said maparting from the spirit of the invention. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawing illustrates .terial. The invention particularly relates to seta view of a longitudinal section of a conventional 5 ting off a fulminate coincident with an unauthordoor to a safe and shows a position of preferred ized tampering with an opening mechanism or installation of a percussion embodying my invenother parts of a closure, such as the door to a tion. Fig. 2 illustrates a view of an enlarged safe and the like. The invention is therefore longitudinal section of the percussion mechanism 10 readily applicable for igniting a shell containshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a face view of 1() ing noxious gases and effecting release of the a part of the mechanism embodying my invensame upon an attempt by a person to effect an tion. unauthorized entrance through or opening of the A mechanism which embodies the features of closure. my invention has a. member disposed for vibra- The invention has for i an object to provide tory movement with reference to a firing pin re- 15 means, preferably disposed within the closure, lease element and so as actuate said release elecapable of actuative movement upon vibrations ment on movement of said member. The force of the closure or a part thereof, to effect the exby which said member may be moved may be plosion of a fulminating element. Another obtransmitted by a part or the body of the parject of the invention is to provide a means assoticular closure to which the mechanism is ap- 20 ciated with a closure locking means and adapted plied. Thus, should one forcefully apply a hamto effect an explosion of the fulminating elemer or mallet to the closure or its part, the viment upon a slight dislodgment of a part of said bration set up by such a blow causes movement closure locking means. Thus, the ignition of a of the said member and resultant release of the gas shell by said fulminating element may be firing pin. 25 effected before material damage has been done In the particular mechanism shown in the acto the closure or its locking means during an companying drawing, a housing I is provided in attempted illegal entry. and on which the elements and members of the A still further object of the invention is to mechanism are supported. The housing I may provide a member of some mass, by reason of be supported, as by suitable bolts 3, on a cover 30 which develops considerable kinetic energy in plate 4 of a recess 5, commonly provided in a motion, disposed in vibratory receiving relation safe door 6. Asis well known, the recess 5 permits to the closure and in an operative relation to a access to the case 1, housing the well known opreleasing means for a firing pin whereby said erating and combination discs, for the purpose of firing pin is released when a blow is applied to changing the combination by which the door may 35 the closure to set the said mass member in mobe subsequently opened. The case I is usually tion. Another and further object of the invenformed of sheet metal and its bottom is stamped tion is to provide a shell igniting means of conto form a boss 8 to bear one end of the disc-opersiderable efficiency, both as to structure and inating spindle 9. The spindle 9 extends outwardly stallation, and of a simplicity in parts and workthrough the door and is commonly provided at 40 ing as to require little attention and skill in its its other end with a dial handle N, by means of use. which the combination and operating discs may The invention consists in other features and be actuated. Thus, by necessity of construction, advantages which will appear from the following a point of weakness in the door 6 is provided and description and upon exam nation of he d aW- to which one seeking entry by unauthorized means 45 ing. Structures containing the invention may often refers and attacks. The attack usually is partake of different forms and may be varied in the form of an effort to drive the spindle 9 in their details and still embody the invention. into the door until the operating disc is freed and To illustrate a Practical application of the accessible for operation with other tools. An atvention I have selected a percussion mechanism tack of this character, whether successful or not 50 for closures embodying the invention as an exin its result, causes material damage to the safe ample of the various structures and details thereand often renders it unfit for subsequent use. of that contain the invention and shall describe It is therefore desirable to combat such an atthe selected structure hereinafter, it being undertack immediately upon the first blow thereof.

stood that variations may be made without de- In the preferred form of mechanism, there is 55 "The'shank portion IG eXtends through an opening" formed in the plate 4 and into-the housing l. vA suitable spring I8 is located on the shank portion l6 and is of a tension insumcient to move preferably against the boss 8 thereof.

the bolt when it is at rest but sufficient to keepthe bolt moving when it is moving toward the case 1 to cause the bolt to locate the end of the massive portion l against the bottom'of the case 1 and One end of the spring l8 may bear against theplate 4 and theother end bear against the massive portion 1 15. Thus, it will be seen that should one apply 1a blow to the dial handle ID or its associated end of the spindle 9,the force thereof woum be trans- -mitted' through the bottomand boss portion 8 of the case I to the massive portion P5 of the bolt 1 I, causing the same to move away from the case land-toward thehousing I. I

As'the bolt moves toward the housing I, the shank portion I6 thereof'engages and operates a trigger membe'rill. The trigger member: 20'is supported for slight pivotal movements within the-housing I. As shown in the 'drawing the trigger member has a goose-neck portion--29 which-fits in an opening 22 formed in a sleeve: 23!

enabling pivotal movements of 'th'e trigger-about said goose-neck portion '2 I'. The sleeve' 23 ex tends from within thehousing itoapoint outside thereof and'may be locked in position with reference to the housing by a suitablefset screw 24. The sleeve 23 may have a slotted portion 25-folguiding the trigger member -20 in its movement. An opening 26 is formed in the-sleeve through which a catch extension-2? of the trigger member extends." a Q If desired, a suitable band spring 28 maybe mounted, as by bolts 29, within the housing and bear resiliently against" the trigger-member 20 to yieldingly maintain the catch extension within the opening 26; Thus, as the'bolt l lmov'es toward the housing I-, the shankportion lfi' e'ngages the member 29' andimoves it against the bias of the spring 28 towithdraw the catch extension ,2! from the opening 26 and thereby release afiringpln 30. r a I The firing pintil-has a head 31 and a shank 32 and is supported for slidable movements within the sleeve 23/ The shank portion has a notch 34' which is adapted to been'gaged by the catch extension 21, when-the notchis in registration with the opening 26. The firing pin is caused to move, during operation, by means of a high compression spring 35 which may bear at one end against the head 3] and at the other end against an annular shoulder '36 formed withinthe sleeve 23'. It will be seenthatthe pin 39 maybe moved against the compression of the spring 35'until t the notch '34 is engaged by the catch extension 21 of, the trigger member to thus prime the mechanism for later firing byactuation of the trigger member, as described.

a bouchon, which is pictorially illustrated at 31.

The bouchon is supported in a skirted bushing 38, the skirt portion being telescopically insertable over the sleeve 23 to thus locate the bouchon in a direct line with the head 3! of the firing pin 30. The bushing 38 has threaded portions 40 which areadapted to be threaded into threaded portions 4! of a gas shell casing 42. The casing 42 may be mounted on the door 6 in any suitable manner. Suitable lock-out means ,maybe provided for preventing accidental explosion, and if desirable, the skirt portion of the bushing 38 may be provided with aligned and diametrically opposed openings 35 through which a barrier, such as a pin, not shown, may be inserted to block the firing pin from striking the bushong upon an accidental release of the firing pin in the normal and authorizeduse of'the door 6.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of r-ny 'inventionnow known to me, those skilled in the art will readily understand that many changes may be made in the form of theniechanism disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention asset forth in the appenoled claims. 'I claim:

1, In combination with a safe door having a handle operated locking means, a gas shell percussion mechanism therefor comprising a housing mounted onthe door, a weighted bolt movably supportedwith-reference to the housing and disposed in contactwith a part of said locking means, a firing pin movably mounted on the'housing,'a-springffor moving the said" pin, anda trigger member adapted to engage saidfiring pin when said spring-is in compression and movably supported on said-housing in a position relative to {said' bolt whereby the trigger member will be engagedby the bolt to releasethe firing pin when the bolt is moveda-wayfrom said position of contact withsaid-lockingmeans. 7

- 2; In combination wit-ha lockable closure having" a han'dle operatedlockingmeans, a percussion mechanism comprising an actuating element movably-supported inthe closure and disposed in contact with the handle operated locking means whereby the actuating element is caused to move when a blowis applied' to the'said locking means, a percussion element movably supported'on the closure and' a'movable member adapted to engagesaid-"percussion element to hold the same against-movement'and disposed to be engaged by said actuating element When the same is moved in response to aiblow 'onsaid locking means 'whereby'the percussion-element is released.

3. A percussion mechanism for a closure hav- 'ing a locking means comprising a housing means "supported onsaid' clo'sure,'a bol-t supported for fendwise movement with reference to said housing means and disposed-in contact with a part of said locking means, a I firing pin movably supported by said housing means, a spring disposed inbear- "ing relation tosaid'fir'ing pin and adapted to move the same when compressed and a trigger element for engaging said firing pin and holding thesame against movement and disposed insaid hous'ing'jmeans whereby the bolt will engage said trigger element and'm'ove the same to release said firing pin when the bolt is moved by a relative movement of said locking means;

41A percussion mechanismfor a closure comprising the combination of an actuating element supported in contact'with said closure and susceptible of movement uponapplication of a. blow to the closure, a percussion element movably supported within the closure, means tending to move the percussion element, and a movable element adapted to engage said percussion element and hold the same against movement and disposed relative to the actuating element as to be engaged and moved thereby to release the percussion element.

5. In combination with a closure having a hand operated locking means, a gas shell percussion mechanism comprising a housing, a firing pin movably supported by said housing, a compressible spring for moving the firing pin, a trigger movably supported within the housing and adapted to engage and hold the firing pin from movement, a spring connected to the housing and pressingly engaging the trigger to yieldingly maintain the same in engagement with the firing pin, and a trigger actuator slidably supported on the closure in force transmitting relation to the closure locking means and adapted to move and engage said trigger to release said firing pin, upon an application of a force on said locking means in an inward direction with respect to the 

